Forestry grant and premiumschemes Donal Magner

State funding for forestry is now mainly confined toafforestation, roading and broadleaf tending. TheRenewed Programme for Government agreed in October

2009 proposed to increase annual afforestation to 10,000 habut average planting for 2010 and 2011 will fall short of thistarget by approximately 3,000 ha. but will be higher thanplanting achieved in 2008.

Changes in 2011The Forest Service announced changes to afforestation grantsand planting specifications in early 2011 to maximise the areaplanted and to ensure a viable support programme. A twinapproach was adopted whereby funding cuts were made tosome grant premium categories (GPCs) and reduced stockingrates for some broadleaves will reduce the cost of establish-ment but not the area planted. Also, the Forest Service isencouraging foresters and growers to choose IS436 certifiedfencing stakes and strainers. Growers who opt for IS436 willreceive an additional €50 per hectare for IS436 fencing and€150 for deer fencing. The fencing standard (IS436) ensuresthat stakes are dried and treated with suitable preservatives toprovide a service life of at least 15 years.

Stocking densitiesThe stocking densities of oak, beech and alder have beenreduced which will result in savings for the grower in plantand establishment costs. Alder stocking will reduce from3,300 to 2,500/ha while oak and beech reduce from 6,600 to3,300/ha. Although the grant for oak is cut from €6,470 to€5,000/ha, it will be possible to establish a crop at this levelof funding because plants required have been reduced by 50%and there are knock on savings in operations such as cultiva-tion, planting and vegetation control. Grants have beenadjusted accordingly (Table 1).

The various grant aided schemes are included in the ForestService Forestry Schemes Manual and this should be consult-ed along with other Forest Service publications such as theCode of Best Forest Practice - Ireland and the suite of envi-ronmental guidelines.

A summary of the various schemes is available in the follow-ing pages including the steps to be taken when applying forplanting approval.

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The Forest Service announcedchanges to afforestation grantsand planting specifications inearly 2011 to maximise the areaplanted and to ensure a viablesupport programme.

FORESTRY AND TIMBER YEARBOOK 2012

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Application process for the afforestationscheme

Approval All proposed forestry developments must receive the prior writ-ten approval of the Forest Service.

Following completion of the relevant operations, formalapplications for payment of the Afforestation Grant, Premiumsand second Instalment Grants must be made by the applicant.

Form 1 - preplanting approval applicationForm 1 applications must be completed by the applicant and aqualified forester whose name is included on the Register ofApproved Foresters. This register is available on request fromthe Forest Service. Form 1 needs to accompany a number ofenclosures including, location map, certified Species Map,Biodiversity Map, Cultivation Plan, Forest Service acknowledge-ment sheet and a number of reports where relevant such asCalcium carbonate tests and drainage survey report.

If there are any environmental considerations identified, theapplication is simultaneously referred to the relevant prescribedbody. Certain sites in this category require a process of publicconsultation.If the site is greater than 2.5 ha a notice of the application is published in the local press.

1,500

2,200

2,2502,5003,6003,8003,8002,400

500

700

750800

110012001200800

2,000

2,900

3,0003,3004,7005,0005,0003,200

400

400

400400500500500500

350

350

350350450450450450

2400

3300

3400 3700 5200 55005500 3700

1. Unenclosedall species

2. Sitka spruce /lodgepole pine3. 10% diverse 4. Diverse5. Broadleaves6. Oak*7. Beech*8. Alder*

Grant / premiumcategory (GPC)

1st grant 2nd grant Totalgrant

Additionalfencingallocation IS436posts

Alternativefencingallocation

(nonIS436)

Totalavailable funding

Table 1: Afforestation Scheme: revised grant rates (€/ha) effective from 1 January 2011

Source: Adapted by D. Magner from Forest Service (2011).

Continuous inspection of planta-tions is vital to ensure that thecrop reaches maximum potential.

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FORESTRY AND TIMBER YEARBOOK 2012

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Grant / premium category (GPC)1. Unenclosed – all species2. Sitka spruce / lodgepole pine3. 10% diverse 4. Diverse5. Broadleaves6. Oak7. Beech8. Alder

155369427454481515515481

126181181181195195195195

Farmer Non-farmer

Source: Adapted by D. Magner from Forest Service (2010).

Table 2: Afforestation Scheme: premium rates (€/ha) (new approvals) effective 1 January 2011

If the proposed development is greater than 25 ha the appli -cation is referred to the Local Authority for observations.

If the site is greater than 50 ha an Environmental Impact Assessment is required.

If an approved forester fails to identify specific considerations, the referrals may be delayed.

Form 2 - 1st grant and premium applicationThe first instalment of the afforestation grant and first premi-um are due for payment on completion of the initial site oper-ations and submission of a completed Form 2. The applicationmust be completed and signed, at the time of submission, byboth the applicant and the approved forester to whom pre-planting approval is issued.

Form 3 - 2nd instalment grant applicationThe second instalment afforestation grant is due for paymentfour years after the completion date of the plantation.Application for second instalment grant may be liable for an on-site inspection. An application for payment (Form 3) must becompleted and signed by both the applicant and the approvedforester at time of submission.

Forest management plansAll applicants must submit a management plan at Form 3stage for plantations which are 10 ha or greater or where over5 ha of broadleaves have been planted. The plan needs to out-line clearly proposed management plans to year 10.

Form 4 - subsequent premium application The farmer rate of premium is payable for a period of 20 yearsand the non-farmer rate for a period of 15 years.

The Forest Service is encourag-ing those intending to plant tochoose IS436 certified fencingstakes and strainers. Growerswho opt for 1S436 will receivean additional €50 per hectarefor IS436 fencing and €150for deer fencing.

The Forest Service April 2011circular outlined a number ofconditions for grant aid: “Toqualify for the higher IS436grant rates all fencing postsclaimed must be certified tothis standard. Where part ofthe fencing claim contains nonIS436 material, the entireapplication will be assessed atthe non IS436 grant rate.” Thecircular also states: “All appli-cations for grant aid must beclearly identified outlining thelocation of each fence typeand length erected in metreson a biodiversity map or a sep-arate “Fencing Map” asdescribed in the revised map-ping standards.”

To receive the higher grant an“IS436 Fencing Post Certificatemust be completed andattached to the Form 2” whenmaking a grant application.Samples of the required fenc-ing certificates are availablefrom the Forest Service. Onlycompanies that are certified bythe NSAI to produce IS436 areentitled to reproduce this cer-tificate. The standard ensuresfull traceability.

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All premiums subsequent to the first premium are applied forby completing a Form 4 which issues to the applicant annual-ly from the Forest Service. At the end of year 10 the applicantmust submit an updated species map and management planfor the subsequent 10 years.

Self assessment companies and approved forestersThe applicant and a forester whose name is included on theForest Service Register of Approved Foresters must completeall Form 1, Form 2 and Form 3 applications. Any applicationnot signed by the applicant and approved forester will not beaccepted. The register includes both foresters employed by thecompanies approved under the Forest Service Self-AssessmentScheme and private consultants Private consultants wishing tobe included on the Register of Approved Foresters must com-plete an application form, available from the Forest Service,which includes a signed undertaking that they will comply withthe Forest Service Guidelines. In addition they must haveProfessional Indemnity Insurance.

SUPPORT SCHEMESThe following support schemes or back up measures providefunding for a range of activities designed to conserve andrestore woodlands and in the case of established crops, addvalue to forests commercially, economically and silviculturally.

Forest road schemeLimited grant aid is provided for the construction of harvest-ing roads which are in accordance with the Code of Best ForestPractice and Forest Service environmental guidelines. See alsoCOFORD forest roading manual. Harvesting roads: Successful applicants to this scheme need

to show that the forest area to be roaded is due to be thinnedand the 20 m threshold per ha may not always apply. In orderto facilitate harvesting, access by timber trucks is essential. Theeconomics of road building dictate that roads are constructedjust before harvesting.

FORESTRY AND TIMBER YEARBOOK 2012

Category

Harvesting Road

Harvesting Upgrade orExtension as defined.

Management Road

€/linear metre

45

45

n/a

Density (metre/ha)

25

15

n/aGrants of up to 80% of eligible costs incurred in the construction of aforest road are available subject to the maximum described above. TheMinister reserves the right to alter these rates.

SUMMARY OF GRANTS FOR HARVESTING ROADS

Successful applicants for the har-vesting road scheme need toshow that the forest is due to bethinned.

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FORESTRY AND TIMBER YEARBOOK 2012

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In order to assess a harvesting road application the follow-ing criteria are used:

• Timber must be ready for harvesting within the next five years (now reduced to one year).

• The length of road that will be grant aided is based on the area of the plantation and the presence of existing harvest-ing roads.

• Grant aid will not be given in excess of 20m/ha or €571.40 /ha.

• Applicants may build roads in excess of 20 m/ha to harvest-ing standard but grant aid cannot exceed €571.40 /ha.

• Existing roads may require upgrading at the time of harvest-ing and may be grant aided.

Reconstitution of woodlandsThis grant is under review and applies when damage to a plan-tation is as a result of natural causes. It no longer applies toplantations damaged by fire and wind.

Grant aid is provided where the plantation had been wellmanaged and maintained up to the time it was damaged.Examples of natural causes that most often affect plantationsinclude frost, disease and windblow. In the case of windblow areconstitution grant is normally allowable where the windblowoccurs before the plantation reaches two-thirds of the reducedage of Maximum Mean Annual Increment.

Grant rates up to a maximum of €3,297/ha for conifers and€7,604/ha for broadleaves.

NeighbourWood schemeThis scheme has been suspended indefinitely.

Native Woodland scheme revisedThe establishment element of the Native Woodland Scheme(NWS) was revised by the Forest Service, in 2011. Proceduralchanges were designed to streamline applications and makethe scheme more user friendly. The NWS – Establishment is agrant package to support growers in developing new nativewoodlands on greenfield sites.The NWS – Establishment offersfarmers a biodiversity-focused grant package alongside theAfforestation Scheme. The revised scheme may be a suitableoption in areas deemed generally sensitive from an environ-mental, landscape or amenity perspective, including green-field sites near or adjacent to existing designated woodlandsand other important habitats.

When the NWS was originally launched, it had two separateelements: conservation of existing woods and establishmentof new native woodlands. The second element has now under-gone a major revision to make it more user friendly. Using a

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The information provided onthe forestry grant and premi-um schemes featured in thefollowing pages is correct asat November 2011.

The availability, approvalconditions and funding ofsome schemes may changeduring 2011 so readers areadvised to check the follow-ing websites:

• Forest Service (www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice)

• ITGA (www.itga.ie) • Teagasc

(www.teagasc.ie/forestry)

All schemes are operated bythe Forest Service, Depart-ment of Agriculture, Marineand Food, the national forestauthority responsible for for-est policy, regulation, admin-istration of afforestation andother forestry grant and pre-mium schemes, forest protec-tion, control of felling andpromotion of research inforestry and forest produce.

FORESTRY AND TIMBER YEARBOOK 2012

new site appraisal framework, the applicant and forester iden-tify the native woodland type for the site , link it to the corre-sponding Grant and Premium Category (GPC), and submit theapplication on that basis. Under the revised scheme, the inputof a NWS ecologist and the development of a detailed nativewoodland plan are no longer required.”

The actual grant and premium rates are the same as the stan-dard Afforestation Grant & Premium Scheme except the GPCsreflect the scheme’s focus on native species. While the schemeis biodiversity orientated, the production of quality hardwoodsis encouraged under the scheme, using continuous coverforestry techniques where compatible.

The scheme is implemented by the Forest Service, in partner-ship with Woodlands of Ireland, National Parks & WildlifeService, and the Heritage Council. Growers interested in thescheme should contact their local registered forester or theForest Service, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford (lo-call1890 200 223 or e-mail forestservice@agriculture.gov.ie).

Broadleaf thinning/tendingThe Forest Service operates a Broadleaf Thinning/Tendingscheme.

Grant aid of €750/ha is available to tend and thin plantations– operations necessary to add value to the crop but which pro-

vide little or no income.

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